3 Las Palomas
Orinda, CA 94563
21 April X (1976)
Karina of the Far West, Laurel Queen of
Arms
to the Heralds of the four Kingdoms,
Greetings.
This letter consists entirely of rejections
for the Kingdom of the West.
WEST
Alexander Graylorn.
We have too many green dragons, especially
Akatoro Minimoto. Make it Argent. The name is too similar
to Keith Laumer's novel Greylorn--the regional spelling
variation between <gray> and <grey> is insufficient--and
must be changed.
Amanda Kendal of Westmorland.
Delete the Tudor rose--though she be of
the Tudor period, yet she is not one of the Tudors. The
name, however, is all right.
Amireck de Nelta.
Conflicts with Hermann Otto Koehlermann:
Sable, a bend sinister Or. Confer with local herald.
Andre Lessard.
Again, substitute something else for the
Tudor roses. Any kind of lizard would be preferable to the dragon.
Bombor of Bombardia.
Conflicts with Barizani. If thunder
and lightning are desired, why not a thunderbolt? Or if bombs
are desired, why not, say, Azure, three fireballs Or?
Charles of Dublin.
Conflicts with Armand-Sebastian de la Foret
de Sauvigny.
Crostobal degli Glicine che Mangia Uome.
Conflicts with Sieglinde von Krasue: Argent
a peacock perched proper. Try a peacock in its pride.
Daniel of Cricketstone.
Conflicts with Grille: Gules, on
a bend argent a cricket sable.
Dediana du Corwyn.
Conflicts with Mirbach: Sable, a stag's attires argent.
Diana Elisabeth nicChlurain of Chelsea.
Conflicts with Inverbervie: Azure,
a rose argent. Start over.
Diana of the House of Cruzan.
This isn't heraldry, it's nineteenth-century
whimsy. Go back to Square One.
Dietrich von dem Weinbergen.
Conflicts with Connecticut: Argent, three
grape vines proper.
Elaine Leitmane.
Conflicts with Kelson de la Croix.
George Silvertongue.
I would like the tincture changed to Argent
on account of resemblance to Stefen Miluh.
Guy de Montfort.
There already was a Guy de Montfort; he
was the brother of Simon IV. The device (Checky sable and argent,
a horse's head couped within a bordure, both gules) is probably
all right, but the horse's head should be drawn larger than on
the emblazon sent to me.
John ap Griffin. badge for Griffin Freehold.
Too close to counterchange of Alfonso de
Castile. I suggest either a field vert or a counterchange of John's
personal arms (with tower added). Could you find a way of indicating
it's the tops of the turrets?
Katwen du Griffin.
Conflicts with Dawn of Jusbourne. Try changing
the field to vert.
Reginleif the Unruly.
The name conflicts with Reginleif, a valkyrie
in the Elder Edda (thought to mean Gods'-kin). The device probably
conflicts with Jiane of Ocuirin: Argent, a horse forcene gules--her
counterchange would be very close. Try a smaller fire? (but watch
out for James Branch Cabell and Manuel of Poictesme?). However,
the Clydesdale horse is in period.
Saint David, College of.
Too close to Walter of Lowestoft: Azure
a bend argent, in sinister canton 4 poppy-bolls argent. Try Azure,
a laurel wreath, in chief two doves volant and respectant each
other argent.
Stephanos Markos ho Martyr.
There already was a Stephen the Martyr--also
called First Martyr or Protomartyr--and for that matter St. Mark
was a martyr too. Try a different name. However, the device seems
to be all right.
William the Wanderer.
Possible conflict with Harold of Pleasure,
Mary of Livermore and Michael of Moria. Change the field to azure.
Since I must go to a third page anyway,
I will make a few more comments.
The filing fee for the College of Arms is
only $1.00, not $1.50. The Kingdom Herald usually charges $2.00,
keeping $1.00 for his own expenses and sending $1.00 with the
submission. There is also some precedent for the local (e.g.,
Principality or Barony) herald charging another fifty cents for
his own expenses where necessary. You might consult me before
doing this.
Please note the enclosed copy of a letter
from then-Laurel Harold Breakstone, point out that males and females
are not required to register their arms on heater and lozenge
shape respectively, but may use either shape. Cartouches, on the
other hand, are not suited to either ladies or gentlemen in the
Society, having been used chiefly by Princes of the Church. Remember
also that badges, including household badges, are borne on roundels,
not heaters or any other shape.
I remain at your service,
Karina of the Far West
O.L., Pel., Baroness
Laurel Queen of Arms
KFW:dem
Encl.
cc: Board
Steward
Tribune
Laurel Emeritus
Imperial College of Arms of the
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
25 Winfield
San Francisco, CA 94110
24 June 1972, Anno Societatis VII
Harold Breakstone, O.L., Laurel Principal
King of Arms, send courteous greetings unto:
Karina of the Far West, O.L., Principal
Herald of the West Kingdom; Alfgar the Sententious, Acting Principal
Herald of the East Kingdom; Bran of Cornwall, Dragon Herald of
the Middle Kingdom; Ioseph of Locksley, O.L., the Rhymer, Aten
Herald (Atenveldt)
My lady, my lords,
Having read the statements submitted to
me by Sarkanyi Gero:, Banner Herald and Seraphim Pursuivant, and
by other heraldic officers in the Known World, as well as William
the Lucky, of Headless House, and other persons not members of
the College of Arms or of any Kingdom College, but interested
in and knowledgeable in the field of heraldry; and having pursued
my own researches in the matter;
I am therefore making and publishing the
following policy decision of the Imperial College of Arms, as
of this date, and to go into effect immediately, to be executed
by the Principal Heralds of the four Kingdoms of the Known World
and their subordinates as soon as copies of this letter shall
reach them:
That since the custom of having a woman
bear her arms upon a lozenge exclusively came into use
in Europe in a general fashion only after the close of the period
that the Imperial College of Arms takes as its model (1300-1485),
the requirement heretofore in the Society that ladies bear their
Arms or devices upon a lozenge exclusively is unreasonable; and
therefore,
Henceforward from this date, it is no longer
required that ladies in the Society for Creative Anachronism bear
their Arms or devices upon a lozenge; but full leave is given
to any member of the Society, whether male or female, to bear
his or her Arms or device upon an escutcheon; and further,
Since during the period before 1485, instances
are found, as on seals, of men's Arms being shown on a lozenge,
which is admittedly a convenient shape for a seal-maker, full
leave is given henceforth to any member of the Society, whether
male or female, to bear his or her Arms or device upon a lozenge,
and no adverse construction or unworthy interpretation shall be
placed upon the fact, if a man choose to do so.
In short, any Society member may design
a device to fit upon whatever shape shall be found most pleasing
and satisfactory to him or her alone, and may bear his or her
device indifferently upon a lozenge or upon an escutcheon; and
scribes, calligraphers, and heraldic artists may in the preparation
of scrolls or other documents of State, follow the individual
preference of the Society member in question, or, in the absence
of any preference expressed by the member, may follow their own
inclinations at the bidding of their artistic conscience.
Pray believe me, &c., yours, &c.,
Harold Breakstone, O.L., Laurel
King of Arms, S.C.A., Inc.